Although people talk of HTML5 being the future of the web, such a future also means JavaScript is becoming an ever more important part of web development. While HTML5 brings features like the Canvas tag for drawing in a browser, JavaScript is what you use to control what’s being drawn and the manipulation there of.

This latest project is a great example of what the future holds. While software such as 3DS Max, Maya, and Blender dominate the 3D modeling market on the desktop, project Thingview.js takes a first step to reproducing that functionality in a web browser.

Thingview is a 3D model viewer written in JavaScript. It works with all browsers, and allows you to interact with a 3D model on your iPhone or Android smartphone through their mobile browsers. If Canvas and WebGL are available it will take advantage of them making for a much smoother viewing experience. You can even import your own models and get them rendered if the file isn’t too big.

Feature so far include:

supports binary and ascii STL and OBJ files without requiring any preprocessing, all the parsing is done on the client in javascript

everything is done client side in JavaScript, requires no plugins for most browsers

should work in all browsers, including iPhone/iPad (might require Google Chrome Frame for IE)

uses HTML canvas or automatically detects and enables webgl if browser supports it

model and background color changing support

ability to rotate the camera around the model and change the view

It builds on the Three.js JavaScript 3D engine which has a broader scope of being a very lightweight 3D solution for a web browser. If you want to see Thingview in action just head on over to the examples page. Just remember, performance will be governed by your PC and the browser being used.

What’s exciting about both these projects is the fact it paves the way for 3D model creation, not just viewing, in the browser (and cloud) in the future. We’re all getting used to creating 2D content in online apps such as those offered by Aviary and deviantArt’s Muro app. How long before we get some serious 3D modeling apps appearing?

Reader Comments

The Pope From TV

Easy 3D modeling on my iPhone?! No way, I’d rather cry about Steve Jobs not helping pave the way for 10 more years of Flash domination. But seriously, this is only the tip of the iceberg for HTML5 capabilities. And Matt hit the nail on the head when he mentions how this is going to lead to so many more apps (cheaper, easier, and lighter) that allow 3D model creation in addition to more simple but great games/apps that add on a 3D perspective.

This will mean a lot more for the layman-PC user as soon as Microsoft or Google introduce a Marketplace or Android app store for desktops. This is especially in Microsoft’s interest so they don’t continue losing marketshare to Macs, and now in part because of Apps on Macs.

http://flatpyramid.com Custom 3d model

Yes, 3d modeling in the clouds is certainly the future and would even allow for online collaborative efforts from a central repository. This will certainly help grow the industry and provide more awareness that is lacking today.